THE PALLAS ATHENA PUBLIC THINKING PROGRAMME
From the general economic thinking to the endorsement of scientific projects, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) – in accordance with the MNB Act – considers the improvement of financial literacy, the enhancement of the underlying economic intelligence and the development of the related institutional system and infrastructure to be one of its responsibilities. To that end, it seeks to raise the quality of Hungarian education in economics and improve the general population’s economic literacy, through educational and individual talent management programmes and by the establishment of training centres (internationally recognised doctoral school and research centre) governed directly either by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank itself or other institutions it has founded and by organizing exhibitions that expand financial literacy by providing a visitor experience for the general public.
The priority goals of the Public Thinking Programme are the following:
- to raise the quality of Hungarian education in economics and improve the general population’s economic literacy through educational and individual talent management programmes;
- promote general financial literacy and awareness by organizing events, exhibitions and publishing publications;
- to enable Hungarian researchers to develop numerous internationally recognised intellectual works;
- to facilitate easier access for Hungarian researchers to the latest approaches in economics;
- to place Hungary on the map of contemporary economic thinking over the coming decades.
It is a deliberate aim of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank to make the various elements of the Programme available to researchers with scientific degrees, PhD students, undergraduate and graduate students as well as colleges for advanced studies. In addition, through its lecture programmes, it also intends to bring fundamental financial and economic concepts closer to anyone interested, thereby enhancing financial literacy.
The Public Thinking Programme expressly seeks to encourage all activities that can improve the chances of young Hungarian researchers of being admitted to PhD programmes abroad, while also offering dedicated courses to students enrolled in Hungarian PhD programmes with the participation of international researchers.